Tube inspecting machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 18, 1955 lllIlIllll -I||| lllll a Feb. 19, 1957 A. PHILLIPS TUBE INSPECTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1955 Feb. 19, 1957 PHILLIPS TUBE I INSPECTING MACHINE 5 Sheeds-Sheet 3 Filed Oct; 18, 1955 Feb. 19, 1957 I A. PHILLIPS TUBE INSPECTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed/001' 18, 1955 FIG. 8.

Feb. 19, 1957 A. PHILLIPS 81,905

TUBE INSPECTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 SWITCH ACTUATED BY I g FIG. 9.

R r 3 02 I IO3\ IIOA 23- LS-l TUBE FEED E L TUBE FEED MECHANISM CYLINDER 2o 7 LS-9 REJECTED TUBE 1.5-2 FEEDINGQF TUBE TO CRADLE f I l FRAME SWINGING 9 5V CYLINDER 33 uoc a l 1 7 1.5-3 swmeme FRAME-L. V i 5v H CL MP CYLINDER as 1100 I CYLINDER I 5V FORWARD 1.5-4 44 L54 MOVEMENT OF ,L I 2 H CYLINDER 4s CARRIAGE H RETURN I HOE 1 g CYLINDER 6| MANDRE. 5V H To CARRIAGE l LS-S EJECTED 5 2} MANDREL' I LS-G LS-7 1 LS-6 MANDREL L v f, MOVING TO LIFT ;,/;;;=V LS-7 MANDREL 7" ll v $83 181: BOA 1 CYLINDER a| MANDREL 3 5V TO STORAGE LS-8 REJECTED TUBE CYLINDER as REJECT LATCH 5V J CYLINDER 9o REJ ECT TABLE United States Patent TUBE INSPECTING MACHINE Adrian Phillips, Bronx, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Baldwin-Lima-Hamilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 18, 1955, Serial No. 541,133

11 Claims. (Cl. 209--72) This invention relates to means for checking the condition of the bore of tubing for such factors as straightness and the presence of obstructions.

In inspecting tubing for straightness, it is often stipulated that a mandrel or drift of predetermined length and outside diameter be successfully passed through the tube. Heretofore this has been accomplished in makeshift ways, for example, by manually placing the mandrel in the tube and introducing compressed air by means of a flexible hose with a manually controlled valve. Another method consisted in pushing the mandrel through the tube by mechanical means and withdrawing it from the end into which it was fed. These methods were slow and depended almost entirely upon the skill of operators.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention to provide a tube inspecting machine which is rapid in its action and is substantially independent of operators. A much larger capacity of tubing inspection may thus be obtained with a greater degree of precision.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine as set forth above which is capable of'checking the interior of the tubes for obstructions, and removing scale and other foreign matter from the inner surface.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description thereof.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of a tube inspecting machine embodying one form of this invention, parts such as feeding and discharging'mechanisms being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 2 disclosing the tube clamping mechanism.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 disclosing the mandrel supporting and. feeding mechanism. a

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. '2 disclosing the mechanism for delivering the mandrels' to' a conveyor.

Fig. 6 ,is a section similar to Fig. 3 but shows the mechanism for feeding tubes to the inspection position and removing tubes therefrom after inspection.

Fig. 7 is a view of certain parts of Fig. 6 in another operating position. i

.Fig. 8 is an enlarged section disclosing details of the air head valve.

Fig. 9 is an electric schematic diagram disclosing the ice extends across a similar stand 15 which serves for clamping the tube (see Fig. 3). Feeding of the tubes is controlled by an escapement 16 at the upper end of a lever 17 pivoted at 18 to the outer end of a piston rod 19 operating in a double-acting cylinder 20 swivelled at 21 on a fixed support 22. More than one feeding mechanism may be provided along the length of the tube. The starting position is shown in Fig. 7. As indicated in Fig. 9, a source of electric power 101 is connected to feed lines 102, 103 which are in turn connected to various control lines arranged in parallel. To start operation of the machine, a two-position push button 12 is actuated to complete a circuit through a set of contacts to energize a solenoid valve 23, with twoposition snap switch LS-l and normally closed contacts A being in closed condition and all other control circuits being open. Piston 19 will then be drawn to the right (in Fig. 6). The tube 10 on escapement 16 is fed to the left, and rolls down (see Fig. 7) until it strikes a member 24 which has been moved into its path by reason of the pivotal connection at 25 of a bell crank 26 of which member 24 forms one arm. The bell crank is pivoted at 26' on the stand 15. Ann 24 has a curved face 24' which is adapted to remove a finished tube from cradle 14 during upward movement of the arm.

The movement of the piston rod 19 to the right will cause limit switch LS-l to be opened mechanically by means of projection 27 to break the circuit through the solenoid valve 23 (see Fig. 9). The valve is double-acting and is automatically returned to its reverse position where it causes piston 19 to be moved to the left to its initial position. This. causes the bell crank 26 to be swung in a direction to move arm 24 out of the path of the tube 10 held by it, thus allowing the tube to roll onto stand 15 and into cradle 14 provided therefor. The escapement 16 now engages the next tube 10' which will be fed when solenoid valve 23 is again energized in the cycle of operation after the tube in position on cradle 14 has been inspected and removed from the machine. On completion of the return stroke of piston 19, switch LS-1 is closed by projection 28 but this will have no immediate effect as explained hereinafter.

In rolling into position on cradle 14, the tube 10 momentarily closes a normally open switch LS-2 (see Figs. 6 and 9) before the piston 19 has completed its return stroke. This energizes a master relay 110 which controls the subsequent operation of the machine. Closing of relay 110 will cause it to open normally closed contacts 110A, close normally open contacts 110B,

110C and 110D, open normally closed contacts. 110E,

and close normally open contacts 110F.

Opening contacts 110A will prevent premature starting of another cycle by the tube feeding mechanism.

Closing contacts 110B will establish a holding circuit to keep master relay 110 energized as long as desired after the tube has rolled over switch LS-2, allowing the latter to open. I

Closing of contacts 1100 will close the circuit through solenoid valve 32 controlling the pressure within a doubleacting cylinder 33 (see Fig. 3) to actuate its piston 34 to swing a frame 35 around a pivot 36 on clamping stand 15 from the dotted line to the full line position. The frame 35 carries a double-acting cylinder 38 at its upper end. As it reaches its vertical position, the frame closes a normally open switch LS-3. Since contacts. 110D have been. closed by master relay 110, a solenoid valve 39 will be energized to cause piston 40 to be movedout of cylinder 38 and bring a clamping head 41 into firm engagement with the tube in testing position onci'adle '14.

Closing of contacts 110D and switch LS-3 will further close thecircuit througha solenoid va lve controlling the pressure withina'double-actiug carriage feed cylinder 45 (see Fig. l) to c ause piston rod 46 t o be moved' to the right(in the drawings) removes drift or mandrel toward andinfo the opening of't ube 10. For this purp'ose,'the piston 'rod '46is'pivota lly connected to a structure such'as acarriag'e 47 riding "By means of upper and lower rollers 48 on 'bea'ins49. The carriage 47 supports a cradl'eSil (see Fig.4) 'upon"whichhasbenplaced (in aman'ner to bedscribed) 'adrifto'nina'tidr'el 51. The movemesrdf "rod 46 'a'ti'd'c'ai riag'e a vftewa ia 'th'e fright 'will cause'the in'an'drl whihh'asa bev'elledifoiwar'd'nd to engage angrenterth'e tulie, the"rear"e'nd 6f the mandrel heing'engaged byan'a'irh'ead34 mounted on thecairiage. 'The cradle 50 is"slightly heloW tube '10 so z'isfn't'to "strike 'it. Continued movement :of the carriage toward "theri'ghtwill cause the air "he'ad"'54 to el'lla'ge iiild close the "entrance to 1 tube '10 "after the "rri'aritlrel' is fully posi. tioned therein. 'Contiriuetlimotion of the carriage-will 'mo've compressed airyalv'e SStOwards'thefair head 54 against thepressu're ofs'pi-ing"56 (see"Fig.'8)j s"o that in effect 'p'lug'57 will be liftedfrom'its seat. Aftub'ular nimberSS i s s'crewe'd ont'o the plug, and the openingssfi' thereof \vill be brought intor'cgistrywith inletfpoi-t'55' to adinit cohipre'ss'edair throughtubularportion 58 against 'irn'a'iidrel sl intheinteriorof the tube lii. 'The'corfipressed air will drive the mandrel through tube 10 if thet'ube issufficiently straight'and fr'e'eof obstructions. V

'The carriage '47 in its initial retracted position 'r'naintains'ope'n a-switc'h LS-4 against the act'ion of'a spring 59. Asthe carriage-is operated to the-rightj spring 59 closes switch L3 4. This switch and contacts "110 B (nowopen'ycontrol'a valve -44 which tends to return the carriage to initial'p'osition, but isnot' eiiective until'relay '110 causes'conta'cts 110-35 to close again. Thusprematu're re'turn of the carri'age 47 is prevented.

sincethe'fo'rward movement of carriage 47 has allowed switch L3 4 to be closed, a circuit is established (see Fig.9) 'th'r'ough asolenoid60 to control the pressure within a double-acting, mandrel feeding cylinder 61 (-see Fig. '4) tocause-a piston 62 w be returned within the cylinder. This will operate anescapement'63 to advance'the'neitt mandrel 51"-to an intermediate position. Closing of contacts 'lltlF by relay l'itLwith switch-L8 8 and contacts 120B being in closed condition, energiZsa timer 140 which isadapted to take control of the operations in the event that-a'inandrel doesnot pass through tube -10 ina predetermined time interval after relay 110 has been energized by the closing of switch and contacts 1101 asthe'tuberollsonto'the c1adle'14. However, if the mandreldoes come through the tube within the.-predetermi ned time, the timer l t-0 is r'c ndered ineffective, as will be described.

Condition 1 .The nmmir'el passes -tlzroilgh th e t zib e If the mandrel passes through the tube, it 'will "strike and momentarily close a normally open switch L5 5 mountedon a back stop '76 '(see Figs. '-1 and 5). The mandrel will then drop to a lower level 71 (see Fig. 5) where it rolls upon a conveyor belt 72 to be fed "to the mandrel storage. The momentary closing of switch LS5 sets into operation the following changes in the electrical scheme as shown in Fig. 9: A relay 1-20 is momentarily closed This will momentarily-open normally closed contacts 120A to deencrgizc master relay 118 Deenergization of re'lay 11G accomplishes the following: ('a) Contacts 119B are opened to break the holding circhit through relay 110. I

(b9 Contacts 110C are opened to 'deen'ergize'valve 32 and swing-frame down, opening switch LS-3.

(0-) Contacts 110D are opened to deenergiz'e v alve 39 a'ndrelease clamp '41. Also valve 44 is opened, connecting cylinder to exhaust.

. (d) Qq t qts. 05.??? We a dfi naen rm l r closed switch LS-4 is closed, the solenoid valve 44' is energized to return the carriage to starting position where it opens LS4 to deenergize valve 44. Air valve 55 will close automatically. Opening LS-4 further deenergizes valve 69, and piston 62 makes a forward stroke to feed mandrel 51 to theca'rriage.

(e) Contacts --1-10A are closed to close the circuit through solenoid valve 23. Arm 24 moves upward and 'itstac'e' 24' willpiish the inspectedt'ube outl'of the cradle '14 so that it rolls upon"dischargeftableiifl. Thehext tube is fed-toth'ectadlehsdescribed he'reiitbeforetind startstheuext cycle when rolling overswitch L5 2.

The momentary closing of relay 12%) by switch LS-S also accomplishesthefollowing: Contacts 1203 which are normally closed are momentarily opened. This will deenergize timer 140 and break the holding circuit through contacts 140C, contacts l lllF having also been opened when rela'y lltl was dee ne rgized A h M h The ina'ndr el is moved fbackward by A the conveyor 12 teen inclined platform-[5 "(see Fig. 4 at the torward end of the machine fr'om 'which' it will" roll into alswiyelled cradle 76. Iusthfore 'drbpping iritothe cradle the man diel wfll in'oirientarily'closea'norihally open switch withswithIS-fl being hormally closed, to energize a relay 130. I

Thelatteraccomplishesthe followihg: y J A "(d) Closes normally open coiit'acts 130Ato complete 'a'holdin'g circuit. v I I W f(b) Closes horiflally bee contacts 1308 which will to lift pis'ton sz'and these/waned cradle 76. The h1g1;- drel on cradle "76 is thus lifted to'the "s'tbrage platform 77. Themand'rel is deliveredtotlie la form by' ciausing 'cr adle 76to'strik'ean abutment 78 to tiltthe cradle so that the mandrel rolls "upo'nthe platform which (to 'operates v'vithftheescapemeht 63.

(-c) meanings-n "to latform 77, tfieaiafidiermaifintarily opens normally closed switch LS-7 which will deserjgizaren ao. y y V Den'ergiz'at'ion of relay 130 will accomplish tlie following: y y y *(d) cantata 130A are opened tob'rak the holding circuit. a l v bi) Contacts 1303 are ripened to 'dehergize'vah/Te so "afia anow piston '82 to descend by 'giavity to lowered position.

Condition -2'.-The'mandrel is not ejected I f the ftri'ndrel is ndt ejected due to aniuiisatisfactory 'cb tiditio'n of the tuhe, obvibusly"swi tch LSf-S is as; actuated. Therefore, timer 140 completes itstimec'ycTe and accpmplish'esithe following: v V U I q A "Contacts are opened'and relay lll l is 'deener izeil. -(In'the ease-of a goodtube, this funcjtio'n 'iis periormed by the mandrel striking and closin'g's itch LS S which eriergifes felaylm toopencOntacts IZQA.) D'e'iiigiziiigtelziydlt) sets'into operation alldfthesteiis hereinbefore described as resulting therefrom, i,""e., 'the holding'circuit through relay is opened, frame 35 is swung news, clainp 11 is released, cylinder 451s "coiinected to exhaust, solenoid valve 4 t isenergiz'edtoil-ethe carriage, a I maiidiel {is fed to the carriage and contacts $102k are closed to en rgiie soieneiii "valve 23 to cause {the tlibe f'edin'g mechanism to push the (iii spec'ted tube outof th'e cradle T4 to theiiiscljl aig iiab le and feed the next tube to the cradle. "Although deehergizatien of "relay *dpeiis contacts 1-1'0F, this does not result in deenergization of timer relay because "of the holding circuit completed by contacts littlC. I "(b') "Coh'tac'ts which fare "norma l "ope as erases. This sitar 233s soIEni iElvaIVe-BJ f a aegis-ac iiig lathg'dPZetaltmg cylinder 85 (see Fig. '6) to withdraw a latch {86 age-ids: 's pi ing' pressure train is "fejetit table 87 fiivote'd'at ssdnthe fixed iiischarge fable'sn (c) Closing of contacts 140A also energizes a sole,- noid valve 84 of a double-acting cylinder 90 whose piston 91 is connected to reject table 87 to pull the table downwardly to the dotted line position and provide a gap 95 large enoughfor the unsatisfactory tube to roll down on the inclined table 87.

When the rejected tube has passed through gap 95, it will roll onto inclined reject platform 96; In the course of its movement along this platform it will momentarily open normally closed switch LS-8. This will accomplish the following: 7

(a) It will deenergize timer 140.

(b) Deenergizing timer 140 will break the holding circuit therethrough by opening contacts 140C.

v (c) It will open contacts 140A to deenergize latch cylinder solenoid 83 so that latch 86 will return to its forward position under spring pressure. Opening of contacts 140A will further deenergize solenoid 84 of reject cylinder 90, which will cause piston 91 to lift reject table 87 to the full line position in Fig. 7 so that latch 86 will snap into a recess in the table to lock it.

(d) It will close contacts 140B to restore the elements to starting positions where relay 110 can again be energized.

As the bad tube rolls off the [reject table 96 it will further close a normally open switch LS-9 momentarily. Closing of this witch is adapted to accomplish the same result as the momentary closing of switch LS-Z as both switches are connected in parallel. The closing of switch LS-9 serves to ensure that the next cycle starts properly after discharge of an unsatisfactory tube. This safeguard is necessary since switch LS-2 will be ineifective in case timer-controlled contacts 140B are still open at the time the next tube strikes switch LS-Z. If, however, the latter switch starts the next cycle properly, switch LS-9 will have no effect thereon.

Wherever reference is made in the specification and claims to the inspection of tubes, it is to be understood as including the cleaning of tubes since the mandrel may be a cleaning utensil. The expression tubes as used in the specification and claims is intended to include pipes and other tubular objects.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a support for maintaining a tube in position for inspection, a structure for supporting a mandrel, said structure having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon, means for moving the mandrel supporting structure and the tube relative to each other so that they approach each other, and means rendered elfective upon said approach for actuating the mandrel projecting'means to propel said mandrel through the tube.

2. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a support for maintaining a tube in position for inspection,

a carriage for supporting a mandrel, the carriage having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon, means for operating the carriage toward the tube support, and means rendered effective by approach of the carriage to the tube support for actuating the mandrel projecting means to propel said mandrel through the tube.

3. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a support for maintaining a tube in position for inspection, means for feeding a tube to the support, a carriage for supporting a mandrel, means for feeding a mandrel to the carriage, the carriage having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon, means for operating the carriage toward the tube support so as to cause the mandrel to engage the tube, control means actuated in re sponse to the feeding of a tube to the tube support for rendering the carriage operating means effective, and means for actuating said mandrel projecting means upon approach of the carriage to the tube support to propel said mandrel through the tube.

4. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a support for maintaining a tube in position for inspection, means for feeding a tube to the support, a carriage for supporting a mandrel, a mandrel storage, means for feeding a mandrel from the storage to the carriage, the carriage having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon, means for operating the carriage toward the tube support to cause the mandrel to engage the tube, control means actuated in response to the feeding of a tube to the tube support for rendering the carriage operating means effective, means rendered effective byapproach of the carriage to the tube support for actuating the mandrel projecting means to propel said mandrel through the tube, and means for returning the mandrel to the mandrel storage after it has been propelled through the tube,

5. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a sup? port for maintaining a tube in position for inspection, means for feeding a tube to the support, a carriage for supporting a mandrel, a mandrel storage, means for feeding a mandrel from the storage to the carriage, the carriage having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon, means for operating the carriage toward the tube support to cause the mandrel to engage the tube, a movable frame, means for moving the frame to effective and ineffective positions, clamping means carried by the frame and operable to effective and ineffective positions into and out of engagement With the tube on the tube support, control means actuated by the feeding of a tube to the tube support for. actuating the frame to 'efiective position, further control means actuated by the movement of the frame to effective position for operating the clamping means to eflective position into engagement with the tube on the tube support and for rendering the carriage operating means etfective, means rendered effective by approach of the carriage to the tube support for actuating the mandrel projecting means to propel said mandrel through the tube, and means for returning the mandrel to the mandrel storage after it has been propelled through the tube.

6. A machine for inspecting tubes, comprising a support for maintaining a tube in position for inspection, means for feeding a tube to the support, a clamping device operable to effective and ineffective positions for engaging and disengaging a tube on the support, a carriage for supporting a mandrel, means for feeding a mandrel to the carriage, the carriage having means for projecting the mandrel supported thereon to propel it through the tube, means for operating the carriage toward and away from the tube support, control means actuated in response to the clamping of a tube on the tube support for rendering effective the carriage operating means to move the carriage toward the tube support, and additional control means actuated upon passage of the mandrel through the tube for rendering effective the carriage operating means to move the carriage away from the tube support.

7. A machine for inspecting tubes as specified in claim 6, including control means actuated by the feeding of a tube to the tube support for actuating the clamping device tto eifective position into engagement With the tube on the tube support, and means actuated by said additional control mean-s for actuating the clamping device to disengage the tube.

8. A machine for inspecting tubes asspecified in claim 6, including a reject mechanism for discharging an unsatisfactory tube, timing means for actuating said reject mechanism, means for rendering the timing means effective to actuate the reject mechanism upon failure of the mandrel to pass through the tube in a predetermined time, and means actuated by said additional control means for rendering the timing means ineffective to actuate the reject mechanism upon passage of the mandrel through the tube.

9. A machine as specified in claim 8, .in which the timing means is adapted to actuate the carriage operating means to move the carriage away from the support, and means for rendering the timing means efiective to move the 

